From the Bunker Vault:

A wonderful bluesy song from the lovely and distinct Esther Phillips. When hunting for vinyl, quite often you judge the book exclusively by its cover. That was the case with this record.

I had never heard of Esther Phillips, with her sweet high pitched and unique voice that bleeds soul and tugs at the listener, before finding this record in a $1 bin at the local record store. Her eyes on the cover indicate that she doesn't simply sing the blues, she has lived it.

And that comes across clearly in listening, with a character to her voice that makes each song, even standards like 'I Love Paris', sound personal and rightfully hers. 'Romance In The Dark' instantly stood out to me, with the slight quiver to her voice and little pauses that send tingles walking up the spine. The perfect soundtrack to keep the brewing storms of fall at bay, so that focus can be given to the one in front of you.

Esther Phillips - Romance In The Dark (Album: Confessin' the Blues) (1976)